Folding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A folding apparatus includes: a folding unit configured to fold a recording medium at an intermediate portion in a transport direction of the recording medium; an upstream roller pair disposed on an upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the folding unit, and configured to transport the folded recording medium toward the folding unit with a fold as a leading end; and a downstream roller pair disposed on a downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the folding unit, and configured to sandwich and transport the recording medium sandwiched between the upstream roller pair, the downstream roller pair being configured to apply a transport force to a portion of the recording medium that is connected to a portion of the recording medium that is sandwiched between the upstream roller pair.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A folding apparatus comprising:
 a folding unit configured to fold a recording medium at an intermediate portion in a transport direction of the recording medium; 
 an upstream roller pair disposed on an upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the folding unit, and configured to transport the recording medium in a folded state toward the folding unit with a fold as a leading end; and 
 at least one downstream roller pair disposed on a downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium with respect to the folding unit, and configured to sandwich and transport the recording medium sandwiched between the upstream roller pair, the downstream roller pair being configured to apply a transport force to a portion of the recording medium that is connected to a portion of the recording medium that is sandwiched between the upstream roller pair, 
 wherein the downstream roller pair is configured to switch between a state in which a roller on one side with respect to a transport route is driven and a state in which a roller on other side with respect to the transport route is driven, in accordance with a folding form of the recording medium transported by the upstream roller pair. 
 
     
     
       2. The folding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one downstream roller pair includes a first roller pair in which a driving roller is disposed on one side with respect to a transport route, and a second roller pair in which a driving roller is disposed on other side with respect to the transport route, and 
 the folding apparatus further comprises a switching unit configured to switch a transport destination of the recording medium to one of the first roller pair and the second roller pair according to a folding form of the recording medium transported by the upstream roller pair. 
 
     
     
       3. The folding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upstream folding unit configured to form a fold on the recording medium transported by the upstream roller pair; and 
 an abutment portion provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium to the upstream folding unit and configured to abut against the recording medium before being folded by the upstream folding unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The folding apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an upstream folding unit configured to form a fold on the recording medium transported by the upstream roller pair; and 
 an abutment portion provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium to the upstream folding unit and configured to abut against the recording medium before being folded by the upstream folding unit. 
 
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; and 
 the folding apparatus according to  claim 1 .